Hydraulic cylinder service machine

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic cylinder service machine which includes a generally rectangular frame and a horizontal central mounting post supported thereon. The central mounting post has extensions which are adjustable in length allowing the machine to handle and mount a wide variety of cylinders for repair. A housing receiving chuck, housing retaining rollers, and piston rod retainer are adjustably secured on the central mounting post. A housing cap retainer may be adjustably secured to the central mounting post or be portable for separate use in the field. A hydraulic mechanism at one end of the frame operates to remove and replace the cylinder housing cap and piston rod nut of a cylinder while it is being held on the machine. The hydraulic mechanism may also be portable for use in the field together with the housing cap retainer.

United States Patent [191 Blomgren, Sr. et a1.

[ Aug. 26, 1975 1 HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SERVICE MACHINE [73] Assignee:Tuxco Corporation, North Chicago,

[22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 516,375

[52] US. Cl 29/240; 81/5739 [51] Int. Cl. B23? 19/04 [58] Field ofSearch 29/240; 81/5739, 3.2, 81/5734 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,216,563 10/1940 Cartier 29/240 3,256,757 6/1966 Kochaver3,848,485 11/1974 Grenci 81/32 Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr.Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lockwood. Dewey, Zickert & Alex [57] ABSTRACT Ahydraulic cylinder service machine which includes a generallyrectangular frame and a horizontal central mounting post supportedthereon. The central mounting post has extensions which are adjustablein length allowing the machine to handle and mount a wide variety ofcylinders for repair. A housing receiving chuck, housing retainingrollers, and piston rod retainer are adjustably secured on the centralmounting post. A housing cap retainer may be adjustably secured to thecentral mounting post or be portable for separate use in the field. Ahydraulic mechanism at one end of the frame operates to remove andreplace the cylinder housing cap and piston rod nut of a cylinder whileit is being held on the machine. The hydraulic mechanism may also beportable for use in the field together with the housing cap retainer.

13 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED Auczs 191s FIG.1

PATENTEU Amzzsms SHEET 2 OF 8 PATENTEB AUG 2 6 I975 SliZET- 3 BF 8 FIGBFIG.6

PATENTED AUBZ 6 I975 SET 5 BF 8 :21 E OF 8 PATENTEI] AUG 2 61975 mN WmHYDRAULIC CYLINDER SERVICE MACHINE This invention relates in general toa hydraulic cylinder service machine, and more particularly to a machinecapable of receiving hydraulic cylinders having widely varyingdimensions and facilitating repair of same.

Heretofore, hydraulic cylinder repair machinery has not been widely usedexcept by a very few shows specializing in repair of hydraulicequipment. The present invention solves size and space problemsheretofore inherent in hydraulic cylinder repair machinery. Prior knownnon-extendable hydraulic cylinder service machines have necessarily hada basic length substantially longer than that of the longest cylinder tobe mounted and repaired thereon. Financially, it is difficult to justifythe cost of a large hydraulic cylinder service machine if only a smallpercentage of hydraulic cylinders to be repaired thereon utilize thefull capacity of the machine.

The present invention is more compact and less bulky than heretoforeknown hydraulic cylinder service machines capable of servicingcomparable size hydraulic cylinders. A present embodiment of theinvention achieves its compactness by having structural members whichenable it to continuously extend to several times its basic length. Theextendability of the invention is achieved without diminution of therigidity necessary in a machine capable of dismantling and reassemblinglarge, heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders.

Another problem encountered when repairing hydraulic cylinders is theneed to tighten and loosen hydraulic cylinder parts with the torquenecessary for assuring proper cylinder functioning at high hydrauliccircuit pressures. The present invention enables appli' cation of atorque not obtainable in heretofore known hydraulic cylinder servicemachines for dismantling and assembling a hydraulic cylinder mounted inthe machine. The torque capability is achieved partially by hydraulicmeans, thereby eliminating large mechanical levers, planetary gears, andother apparatus.

The hydraulic cylinder service machine of the invention achieves asimplicity of construction not heretofore available in such machines bybeing planned around a central mounting post and its extensions. All nonportable components of the machine mount directly to the centralmounting post or its extensions. The lathe-like non-extendable dual railconstruction heretofore used in machines for repairing hydrauliccylinders is eliminated.

The central mounting post is attached in a horizontal position to arectangular frame having a plurality of leg supports. A horizontallytelescoping member having an independent supporting pedestal is slidablyreceived in one end of the tubular central mounting post. A power drivemechanism extends or retracts the telescoping member relative the post.The pedestal support member has a vertical extension extending above thehorizontal post which includes a rotatably mounted cylinder housingreceiving chuck. A hydraulic cylinder to be serviced mounts in theservice machine over the post by attaching the closed end of the housingto the chuck. Rollers located in spaced relation above the centralmounting post support the cylinder housing. An adjustable retainer alsoattached to the central mounting post connects to the cap of the housingto prevent turning. A piston rod mounting support is slidably connectedto the central mounting post and retains the free end of the piston rodin a rigid position. The piston rod mounting support, rollers, and chuckare all adjustably movable along the central mounting post or extensionto handle different length cylinders. Housing cap retainers may beadjustably movable along the central mounting post or portable foralternate use in the field.

A second extension to the mounting post may coact with the opposite endof the post from which the telescoping member is received to furtherlengthen the machine. This extension also has a supporting pedestal. Thecombination of two extensions and basic central mounting post permit theservicing of cylinders up to 15 feet in length. It can be furtherunderstood that the invention disclosed can provide extendability suchthat even longer cylinders may be mounted in the in the machine withinthe scope of the invention. When smaller hydraulic cylinders arerepaired, the extendable members of the central mounting post areretracted forming a compact hydraulic cylinder service machine. A flatworking surface upon which tools and parts are placed is defined on theframe adjacent the mounting post. An oil catching pan running the fulllength of the frame is attached under the central mounting post forcollecting spilled hydraulic oil for reuse.

A hydraulic power torquing means including a torque plate moment arm anda portable hydraulic ram are connectable to the rotating chuck fordriving same. In one embodiment, the hydraulic ram is placed between abracket support and the torque plate. As the ram is extended, the plateis moved in an are causing the chuck assembly to turn. A portable unitutilizing these same principles and additionally capable of use in thefield is a second embodiment of the hydraulic power torquing means.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compacthydraulic cylinder service machine which is adjustably extendable formounting hydraulic cylinders of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple hydraulictorquing means in a hydraulic cylinder service machine providing moretorque capacity than heretofore available for servicing cylinders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic cylinderservice machine of simplified construc tion by having all non-portablecomponents of the machine connectable to a central mounting post.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hydrauliccylinder service machine including basic torquing and torque reactivecomponent which are portable providing alternative utilization in thefield.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals referto like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hydraulic cylinder service machineof the invention showing a hydraulic cylinder in phantom mounted thereinand the extendability of one telescoping member;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line22 of FIG. 1, also showing in phantom the second extension membercoacting with the central mounting post;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line33 of FIG. 2 showing the power torquing means and the drive mechanismfor extending the telescoping member;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the adjustable spanner wrench type retainer forengaging the cylinder housing cap and a mounting mechanism for attachingthe retainer to the central mounting post;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 5 -5of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line6-6 of FIG. 2 showing one of the adjustable cylinder housing retainingrollers as attached to the central mounting post and supporting amounted hydraulic cylinder housing;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view of the machine accordingto the invention showing the placement of components enabling themounting of a cylinder therein;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the hydraulic rampivotally retained in its mounting bracket;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of a cylinder and housing chuckassembly having a cylinder mounted with certain portions omitted forclarity;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with the cylinder housing removedand showing a socket received by the chuck assembly for removing the nutretaining the cylinder rod piston and a bar means in phantom as analternative chuck turning means;

FIG. 12 is a vertical elevational view of a second embodiment of theinvention showing the portable power torquing means and hydraulictelescoping means;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 13l3 of FIG. 12showing the portable power torquing means;

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a vertical elevational view partially cut away of amodification of the spanner wrench mounted upon a cylinder cappositioned in the machine as shown in cross section taken along line1616 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16 with some partsin section.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a hydrauliccylinder service machine of the invention is generally shown at 10. Theinvention comprises a rectangular frame 11 having a plurality of legsupports typically shown at 12. Attached to the frame in horizontalposition is a central tubular mounting post 13 having a rectangularcross section, although it may have any suitable cross section. At oneend of the mounting post 13 a telescoping member 14 of like but smallercross section having an upstanding first supporting member or pedestal15 located at its outer end which is slidably received in the post tovary the length of the machine for servicing cylinders of differinglengths. Supporting member 15 has a stabliing foot portion 17 at itslower end with attached rolling means 170, FIG. 2, and a verticalextension 16 at its upper end rising above the telescoping member formounting a ro tating hydraulic cylinder receiving chuck assembly 20. Asa hydraulic cylinder 18 is serviced in the hydraulic cylinder servicemachine 10, the closed end of a cylinder housing 19 is mounted in chuckassembly 20 with cylinder housing support rollers 21-21 spaced along thepost maintaining the remaining portion of the housing in a horizontalposition.

An adjustable spanner wrench type retainer 22 mounted on the postengages the cylinder housing cap 23 of a cylinder to prevent the samefrom turning. An aperture through the center of cap 23 serves as amounting for cylinder piston rod 116 which extends therethrough. A sealand packing assembly 23a prevents the leakage of oil through theaperture. The free end of the cylinder piston rod 116 includes anexternal mounting member or yoke retainer 24 and mounting apertures 24atherein which is retained in a vertical support 25 also attached to thecentral mounting post 13 as seen in FIG. 7.

A second extension 26 having a second supporting member or pedestal 27substantially similar to supporting member 15 may be added to theopposite end of central mounting post 13 as shown in phantom in FIG. 2to further increase the length of the machine for servicing still longercylinders.

A flat work bench tabletop 30 is shown in FIG. I mounted on frame 11adjacent the central mounting post 13. Parts and wrenches may be placedon the tabletop aiding in assembling or disassembling the hydrauliccylinder. One portion of an oil catching pan 31 mounted in frame 11under the full length and width of the basic central mounting post 13can be seen in FIG. 1 while it is shown in cross section in FIG. 2. Anyoil leaking out of the cylinder is collected in the pan and drainedthrough an outlet 32 into a suitable container. This oil may thereafterbe filtered and reused.

The combination telescoping member 14 and supporting member 15 isslidably moved in the central mounting post 13 by a telescoping memberdrive unit or worm gear drive mechanism shown generally at 33 in FIGS. 1and 2. Worm gear drive mechanism 33 includes a prime mover 34 such as apneumatic motor, having an output shaft mounting a driving sprocket 35.A driven sprocket 36 mounted at one end of a worm gear shaft 37rotatably supported by the vertical support member 15 and running thelength of telescoping member 14 is drivingly connected to the drivingsprocket by a chain 38. A protective safety enclosure 39 covers thesprockets and chain. An internally threaded rigid fitting or nut 40 islocated in frame 11 and fixed against rotational and axial movement.Since the fitting 40 does not move and worm gear 37 is rotatably but notlaterally movable in relation to supporting member 15, the rotation ofworm gear 37 causes the telescoping member to move relative the hollowcentral mounting post 13 as shown in full line and phantom in FIG. 1.

A hydraulic torquing means for rotating the chuck 20 is shown. generallyat 41 in FIG. 3. The chuck assembly 20 includes a shaft 42 which isrigidly connected to the torquing means 41 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.Accordingly, the torquing means can loosen a cap on a housing or tightensame into sealing relationship. Additionally, the torquing means canloosen or tighten a cyl inder piston retaining nut to aid repair orreplacement of a hydraulic cylinder piston. Hydraulic torquing means 41includes a torque plate or moment arm 43 mounted on shaft 42 on theopposite side of the support member vertical extension 16 from chuck 20.The torque plate 43 is circular in shape and includes round pin holes 44located in equally spaced angular relation inwardly adjacent theperiphery of the plate. The torquing plate 43 is driven by a portablehydraulic ram 45 operated by a pump 46, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7.Depending on the direction of rotation desired, a pivot pin mounting 45alocated at one end of the ram is placed in and pivotally retained by anupwardly facing V-slot in bracket 47a or 47b mounted on either side ofthe support member as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 while the ram piston48a is retained against the plate. The arms of pivot mounting 45a extendover the outside of either bracket 47a or 47b as mounted and pivot pin45b is retained in the bight portion of the V-slot. A block 48 whichretains the outer end of the ram piston includes a transverse bore forreceiving a removable pin 49 which also engages the plate 43 at any ofthe pin holes 44. The ram piston, when extended as shown in phantom inFIG. 3, causes a part-revolution rotation of the torquing plate 43 andthe connected chuck through shaft 42. It can be appreciated the forcetransmitted to the chuck by hydraulic cylinder 46 acting through theradius of torque plate 43 is substantial. The torque generating capacityof the invention for disassembling and assembling cylinders is higherthan heretofore known hydraulic cylinder service machines. The hightorque levels are required to assemble and disassemble hydrauliccylinders which are used in high pressure hydraulic circuitry. As shownin FIG. 3, the torquing means 41 is capable of operating in eitherdirection clockwise, or counterclockwise to provide torquing power forassembly or disassembly of hydraulic cylinders. In operation, thehydraulic torquing means is preferably applied only during the beginningand end of turning operations when high torque capacity is required.Since the torquing plate 43 is only rotated through a partial revolutionfor full extension of the portable ram piston 45b, continual powerrotation of the torquing plate 43 necessitates withdrawing the rampiston 48a, moving block 48, and securing pin 49 to the adjacent pinhole 44 which is closer to the end of the withdrawn piston. Manualturning means are employed to perform the necessary turning operationswhenever the high torque capacity of the ram is not required.

In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the adjustable spanner wrench type retainer 22which holds the cylinder cap and seal 23 against rotation duringassembly and disassembly of cylinders includes two L-shaped arm members52, 53 retained on the central mounting post 13 by a split collar 54including an inverted U-shaped plate 54a and a holding or retainingplate 54b. The horizontal leg portions of L-shaped arm members 52 and 53are adjacently juxtaposed and sandwiched between the top of collar 54and a holding or retaining plate 55 so pins 56 and 56a at the upper endsof the armmembers engage housing cap 23 on opposite sides thereof.Retaining ridges 55a and 55b extend downwardly from the holding plate 55to retain the horizontal leg portions closely adjacent one another. Inorder to align pins 56 and 56a to fit detents in the housing cap 23, pin56a is mounted on an offset arm at the side of L-shaped member 52 asshown most clearly in FIG. 7. Split collar 54 is selectively locked toor slidable along central mounting post 13 or extension 26 by means oftightening or loosening nut and bolt assemblies which coact withretaining plate 54b and collar portion 540 thereby securing the spannerwrench in a selected position along the post 13 or extension 26. The topof collar portion 54a includes platforms 57, 57a extending to eitherside thereof and maintained in horizontal position by triangularsupports 58, 58a connected to the bottom of the respective platforms andtheir adjacent side portions of collar portion 54a. Side platforms 57,57a can additionally support the portion of L-shaped arm members 52, 53which would otherwise extend over the sides of central mounting post 13and the similarly shaped split collar 54.

In FIG. 6, a cylinder housing support member 21 is shown which includesa roller 61 extending horizontally and transverse the central mountingpost 13 having a roller surface tapering towards its center from bothends to guidably receive the rounded surface of a cylinder housing. Theroller 61 is rotatably supported on a shaft 61a, the opposite ends ofwhich are suitably secured to the upper ends of threaded support rods62, 62. A base plate 63 mounted transversely on the central mountingpost 13 includes holes receiving the rods. Nuts on each rod at oppositesides of the plate are positioned to adjust and lock the rods at adesired location on the plate 63 to place the roller at a selectedelevation. Plate 63 is slidable along the mounting post 13, and ismaintained in transverse position by retaining pins 64-64 mounted on theunderside of the plate immediately adjacent each side of the centralmounting post 13. In operation, the roller 61 rotates as a cylinderhousing 19 is disconnected and drawn away from the housing cap and seal23 and moved longitudinally along the machine. Activation of the wormgear drive mechanism moves the telescoping member and the cylinderhousing connected to chuck 20.

The mounting structure 25 for receiving and retaining cylinder rodexternal mounting 24 is most clearly shown in FIG. 7. It includes arigid vertical support 65 mounted on the top surface of a split collar66 which surrounds the central mounting post 13. The collar includes aninverted U-shaped member 66a and a lower plate member 66b held togetherby nut and bolt assemblies which when loosened allow the structure to beslidably positioned along the post or extension and when tightened fixthe position of the structure. It should be noted that collar 66 of themounting structure 25 and collar 54 of the adjustable housing capretainer 22 are fastened to the central mounting post 13 in the samemanner. While the rigid vertical support 65 is a channel shape, it couldtake any other suitable shape. Two horizontal parallel arms 70-70connected to support 65 have aligned round apertures 71-71 at theirdistal ends through which a cylinder rod retaining pin 72 is slidablyheld. The cylinder rod mounting member 24 is rigidly retained on pin 72by means of a proper size cylindrical sleeve 73. A plurality of sleeves73 of various sizes are stored on frame 11 behind the central mountingpost 13. Sleeves 73 are cylindrical in shape having a length slightlysmaller than the distance between parallel arm members 70-70. Eachsleeve has a central mounting hole 74 slightly larger than the diameterof retaining pin 72 for receiving the same. The outside diameters ofsleeves 73 are varied. This enables cylinders having various mountingmember aperture diameters to be mounted in the machine. In operation aproper diameter sleeve 73 is fitted into the apertures in the rodexternal mounting member 24. That assembly is placed between themounting structure retaining arm members 70-70 so the central aperture74 aligns with the retaining arm apertures 71-71. Retaining pin 72 isinserted through the aligned apertures to rigidly retain the rodmounting member 24 in machine 10. As can be seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9,cylinder housing 19 mounts in rotating chuck assembly 20 in the samemanner as rod mounting member 24 mounts in vertical support 65.

Chuck assembly 20 includes a head rotatably mounted to the supportingmember vertical extension 16 by shaft 42 which is mounted in a hole 78centrally through the chuck head and keyed thereto by key 76, as seen inFIGS. 7, 9 and 11. Arm members 81-81 mounted in opposite parallelpositions at the outer periphery of head 75 and extending forward of thefront working surface 80 are substantially similar to opposing armmembers 70-70 of piston rod retaining structure 25. The arm members81-81 have aligned apertures 82-82 at their distal ends for receiving acylinder housing retaining pin 83 substantially similar to pistonretaining pin 72. A sleeve 73, as previously described, is inserted incylinder housing mounting member 84 at apertures 84a, and sleeveaperture 74 is aligned with apertures 82-82 of chuck arm members 81-81,and retaining pin 83 is inserted to retain the housing mounting member84 in chuck assembly 20. A pair of centering screws 85-85 are turnedinto internally threaded apertures 86-86 located inwardly adjacentapertures 82-82 on chuck arm members 81-81. Centering screws 85-85 maybe adjusted to place the cylinder housing mounting member 84 in acentral position on sleeve 73 so as to provide rotary motion without anylateral motion as the chuck assembly 20 turns hydraulic cylinder housing19.

As shown in FIG. 10, the chuck head 75 has a skirt 90 extendingrearwardly from its outer circumference. Skirt 90 covers a portion of around mounting hub 91 connected to supporting member vertical extension16. A retaining ring 77 retains the head 75 on the hub 91. Chuck 20 andchuck mounting hub 91 have apertures extending radially inward from theouter circumference of each member. Aperture 92 extends diametrically ofchuck head 75. Aperture 93 is axially aligned with aperture 92 andextends through the skirt 90. Aperture 94 is located in the most forwardportion of chuck mounting hub 91, is preferably positioned vertically,and is capable of aligning with aperture 93 in skirt 90. Aperture 95 isvertically positioned, axially aligned with aperture 94, and located ina portion of chuck mounting hub 91 not covered by chuck skirt 90. Achuck turning bar 96, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, may be placed inaperture 92 of the chuck head 75 providing an efficient means for handturning chuck 20 and a cylinder housing held thereby. A stationary bar101 is inserted vertically in aperture 95 providing leverage means forturning chuck 20 with chuck turning bar 96. A pin may be insertedthrough skirt aperture 93 and into aligned hub aperture 94 to lock thehead 75 to the hub 91. A locked stationary chuck is desirable whenperforming certain repair operations on hydraulic cylinders, such as theremoval or replacement of hydraulic fittings 98, 99 which are threadedlyreceived in hydraulic cylinder housing 19.

As shown in FIG. 10, torque plate 43 includes a hub 102 with a centralaperture 103 partially therethrough from one end thereof for receivingone end of chuck mounting shaft 42 opposite the end at which chuck head75 is mounted. A central keyway or socket 104 is located betweenaperture 103 and free end 105 of hub 102. Shaft 42 has a central keywayor socket of identical cross section at 106. A key is mounted throughhub keyway 104 and into shaft keyway 106 fixing the plate 43 and shaft42 for corotation. Key 110 is preferably square in cross section forengagement of sockets or torque wrenches.

In FIG. 11, a socket 111, one of a plurality of varying size sockets, isshown with its male mounting end 112 positioned in socket mountingaperture 113 centrally located in one end of shaft 42 so it protrudesfrom chuck working face 80. Socket 111 has a recess at its other endwhich couplingly engages and is used for turning nut 114 which retainshydraulic cylinder piston 115 on piston rod 116. Nut 114 may be turnedusing hydraulic torquing means 41 or by hand means using chuck turningbar 96 or a wrench which may be mounted on the exposed end of key 110.

A second embodiment of the hydraulic cylinder service machine is shownin FIG. 12, generally at 121. The modification forming the secondembodiment includes a portable torquing means, shown generally at 122 inFIGS. 12 and 13, and a modified spanner wrench, generally at 123 in FIG.16. Both torquing means 122 and spanner wrench 123 may be usedseparately or in combination to aid in repairing a hydraulic cylinder inthe field and yet compatibly provide the same functions as torquingmeans 41 and spanner wrench 22 of the first embodiment when attached tothe machine 121. Also included in the second embodiment is a means forhydraulically telescoping portions of the machine, which is showngenerally at 124 in FIG. 12.

Portable torquing means 122 includes a frame 125 having generallyparallel side members 126, 126 and end plates 130, 131 attachedtherebetween. Torquing plate 132 is similar to torquing plate 43 of thefirst embodiment, and is pivotally mounted to frame 125 by a shaft 133having mounting apertures or keyways 134-134 at its ends which providethe same function for both directions of rotation as mounting aperture 113 in shaft 42 of the first embodiment. A portable hydraulic cylinder ispositioned in the frame 125 with its blank end 135a against end plate131. Piston of hydraulic cylinder 135 is attached to a bracket 141 whichis slidable along frame side members 126, 126 and is slidably pivotallyattached to rotatable torquing plate 132 through pin 144 which isremovably retained in transverse elongated slots -145 astride thetorquing plate. Bracket 141 is prevented from movement other thansliding along frame side rails 126, 126 by tongue 142 which extends frombracket 141, between frame side rails 126, 126, and which is maintainedtherebetween by a retainer 143 suitably removably attached to the tongueby bolts 143a or the like. Hydraulic cylinder piston 140 provides aforce vector through bracket 141 and pin 144 which approximates thetangential component of the force necessary to move torque plate 132through a partial rotation. The radial component of rotational force iscompensated for by allowing pin 144 to slide in slots 145-145. Torquingmeans 122 is capable of exerting torque comparable to that of torquingmeans 41 of the first embodiment. Retaining are 136, shown in FIGS. 12,13, and 15, extends outwardly of pedestal post 137 and is utilized forbracing torquing means 122 against rotation when it is mounted in themachine 121.

Portable hydraulic torquing means 122 is connectable to the servicemachine 121 by positioning either of twin keyways 134-134 onto key 137.Torque is transferred through shaft 137a and chuck 138 in the secondembodiment as it is transferred through shaft 42 and chuck in the firstembodiment. When in operation on the service machine, torquing means 122is positioned on either side of the retaining arm 136, depending on thedirection of torque desired, so as to prevent rotation of the frame 125.

In operation, torquing means 122 provides torque through a step-wiserotation of torquing plate 132 similar to torquing means 41 of the firstembodiment. The portable hydraulic cylinder piston 140 is extendedcausing bracket 141 to move and rotate torquing plate 132 through apartial rotation. Then pin 144 is withdrawn from its mounting, piston140 is returned into cylinder 135, and slots 145-145 are aligned with adifferent hole 132a on the plate. After pin 144 is reinserted throughslots 145-145 and through the second hole 132a, the torquing means mayagain be activated.

Portable torquing means 122 may also be removed I from the hydrauliccylinder service machine 121 and adapted to provide torquing capacity inthe field. The portable torquing means 122 may also be utilized in thefield for coaction with the portable spanner wrench 123 described below.

Portable spanner wrench 123 is shown most clearly in FIG. 16 andincludes a lever arm 145 with a firstjaw 146 extending therefrom havinga first detent mounting post 147 attached thereto. The first mountingpost includes a horizontally slotted tool mounting way 148 orientedgenerally perpendicular to the axis of the lever arm 145. A detent tool150 is slidably and adjustably retained on the way by nut and boltcombination 149 or its equivalent. A second jaw 151 is adjustably andslidably mounted on the lever arm in spatially aligned relation to firstjaw 146 and includes a hollow support bar 152 fitting over one end 153of lever arm 145 which is selectively retained thereon. In thisembodiment, the lever arm distal end 153, on which the support bar 152is mounted, is threaded. After the support bar 152 is positioned onlever arm 145 with threaded distal end 153 through aperture 152a of thesupport bar, lock nuts 154 are threaded thereon preventing the jaw 151from moving laterally outward. A second detent mounting post 155 isattached to bar 152 and includes a detent tool 156 which is alsoslidably and adjustably mounted on its post tool mounting way 157. Tool156 is positioned so as to be directly opposed to detent tool 150 onopposite sides of a hydraulic cylinder cap 129 which is mounted betweenand retained by the tools in the mounting posts 147, 155 as shown inFIG. 16.

In operation, the jaws of the spanner wrench formed by the detentmounting posts 147, 155 are adjustably fitted around hydraulic cylindercap 129 mounted in the hydraulic cylinder service machine 121 until thedetent tools 150, 156 are positioned in corresponding indents 160, 161in the cap. While the spanner wrench 22 of the first embodiment ismounted on the central mounting post 13, portable spanner wrench 123 isnot mounted directly on the service machine 121 but is maintained, whenattached to the cylinder cap in nonrotatable position by the impingementof lever arm 145 upon the sides 163, 164 of the hydraulic cylinderservice machine frame 162. Spanner wrench 123, as retained, maintainsthe hydraulic cylinder cap 129 in stationary position as does spannerwrench 22 of the first embodiment.

While the pneumatically driven worm gear drive mechanism 33 of the firstembodiment provides sufficient power to pull apart disconnected portionsof a typical hydraulic cylinder mounted in the service machine, somehydraulic cylinders may become bent or otherwise abused during use. Bentand abused hydraulic cylinders may require more force during dismantlingthan provided by the first embodiment. Therefore, a hydraulically driventelescoping drive mechanism 124, shown in FIG. 12 may be 1) added to thefirst embodiment of the invention, or 2) substituted for thepneumatically driven worm gear drive mechanism 33.

In FIG. 12, the hydraulic telescoping means is shown, generally at 124,and includes a portable hydraulic cylinder 165 which may be the same orsimilar to hydraulic cylinder of the torquing means 122. The blank endof portable hydraulic cylinder is abutted against a flange 166 attachedto the end of the central mounting post 167 through which extension 168telescopes. Half moon shaped retainer 170 on flange 166 prevents thecylinder 165 from slipping out of position during operation. The pistonrod 171 extending from the cylinder is fitted into female mounting 172extending from a collar 173 which is mounted around telescoping member168. The collar 173 is selectively attachable to extension 168 by meansofa pin 174 releasably mounted through the bottom of the collar which isinsertable into any one of a plurality of mounting holes 168a located atintervals along the bottom of the extension. Collar 173 preferablyincludes offset top and bottom surfaces for increasing the distancebetween female mounting 172 and flange 166 although other collar shapesare also satisfactory.

In operation, the cylinder 165 is extended while mounted between theflange 166 and collar 173 forcing the collar and the post extension 168attached thereto through pin 174 outward from central post 167. Ifmember 168 is to be extended further than a full extension of piston rod171, the rod is retracted into hydraulic cylinder 165., pin 174 iswithdrawn from mounting hole 168a, and collar 173 is slidably movedcloser to the retracted piston rod 171. The pin 174 is then insertedinto another mounting hole 168a and the process is repeated until member168 is extended a desired amount. The telescoping member 168 may beretracted into central mounting post 13 by pushing the entire pedestalsupport 137 to the left as shown in FIG. 12, or if the pneumatic wormgear drive mechanism is attached as shown in FIG. 1 the pneumatic drivemay be utilized to perform the same function.

Also, it may be desirable to pull apart portions of the hydrauliccylinder 128 by hydraulically forcing the vertical support member 25along the central mounting post 167 away from pedestal support 137. Toperform this function, portable hydraulic cylinder 165 may be placed inposition 165a, FIG. 12, wherein its blank end abuts against the oppositeside of flange 166 from that previously described. Half moon retainer170a per forms the same function as retainer 170 previously described inpreventing undesirable movements of the portable cylinder when mountedabutting the flange. The piston rod 171a is positioned in femalemounting 177 of vertical support 178 to which the hydraulic cylinder 128is mounted. When lower plate member 178b of split collar 178a onvertical support 178 is loosened,

the portable cylinder 165 may be extended to forcibly move verticalsupport 178 along central mounting post 167.

Once vertical support 178 has been moved to a position away from flange166 equal to or greater than the extended length of portable cylinder165 in position 165a, a removable split collar 176 which is slidablyselectively attachable to central mounting post 167 or its extension 26is utilized to form a support for the porta ble cylinder. Split collar176 includes an inverted U- shaped portion 176a and a lower plate member176b which is attachable to the U-shaped portion by nut and boltassemblies or their equivalent. A mounting flange 177 including a halfmoon retainer 177a is attached to the top of the U-shaped portion forreceiving and retaining the blank end of portable cylinder 165. Lowerplate member l76b may also include a removable pin assembly (not shown)similar to pin 174 for fitting into holes in the bottom of mounting post167 and thereby aiding in selectively securing the collar to the post.The top and bottom portions of split collar 176 may also be offset in amanner similar to collar 173. Split collar 176 is removable from centralmounting post 167 allowing it to be positioned on either side ofvertical support 168. Once the portable cylinder 165 is mounted betweencollar 176 and vertical support 178, the cylinder may again be extendedto move vertical support 178 in either direction along central mountingpost 167 as shown in black line and in dotted line at 176a.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A hydraulic cylinder service machine for servicing a hydrauliccylinder wherein the cylinder includes a hollow cylindrical housingclosed at one end and open at the other end, a piston slidably receivedin the housing, a rod connected to said piston at one end by a pistonretaining nut and having an external mounting member on the other endand extending through the open end of the housing, and a cap having acentral aperture therethrough threadedly secured to the open end of thehousing retaining said piston therein and having an aperture throughwhich the rod is guided, said machine comprising, a frame having asubstantially rectangular form and support means, a tubular post meansattached in horizontal position to said frame, first means selectivelyconnected to or slidable relative said post means for receiving andretaining said cylinder housing, second means coacting with said postmeans for receiving and retaining said housing cap, means for preventingrotation of one of the first or second means, and hydraulic means forcausing rotation of the other of said first or second means for removingsaid cap from said housing or replacing the cap on the housing.

2. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1, wherein said postmeans includes, a first member mounted on said frame, and a secondmember telescopically received in said first member at one end thereoffor providing post means length extensibility.

3. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1, wherein said firstmeans includes, chuck means rotatably mounted on said post means.

4. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3, wherein said firstmeans further includes, support means for maintaining said cylinderhousing in a spaced relation to at least a portion of said post means.

5. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1, wherein saidsecond means for receiving and retaining said housing cap includes anon-rotatable adjustable spanner wrench-type retainer and means foradjustably mounting same on said central mounting means relative saidfirst means.

6. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 5, wherein saidspanner wrench-type retainer includes a pair of upstanding arm members,each arm member having a horizontally inwardly facing protrusion forengaging said housing cap, means for adjustably retaining said armmembers on said post means to vary the distance between saidprotrusions.

7. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1 wherein said secondmeans includes a portable adjustable spanner wrench-type retainer, andsaid means for preventing the rotation thereof includes an elongatedmember on said retainer which when said retainer is mounted on saidcylinder cap is capable of impinging said frame and thereby berestrained from further rotation.

8. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3, wherein saidcylinder further includes at least one ear with an opening therethroughfor pivotal mounting of the housing, and said chuck means comprises, ahead portion, and members extending from said head portion havingaligned pin openings, and a pin coacting with the pin openings of thechuck members and opening of said cylinder ear to retain said cylinderfor rotation with said chuck means.

9. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 8, wherein saidhydraulic means includes, a portable hydraulic ram including means foroperating said ram, moment arm means mounted in fixed rotationalrelation to said chuck means for pivotally retaining one end of saidportable hydraulic ram, and stationary retaining means on said postmeans for pivotally retaining the other end of said portable hydraulicram whereby extension of said hydraulic ram forces said chuck to rotate.

10. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 8 wherein saidhydraulic means includes a portable torquing means capable of providingtorque to said chuck means in fixed rotational connection thereto andalso capable of providing torque elsewhere when disconnected from saidchuck means including,

a frame, a hydraulic ram insertable in said frame and means foroperating said ram, and moment arm means rotatably mounted in said framefor pivotal connection to one end of said hydraulic ram.

11. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1, furthercomprising third means selectively connected to or slidable along saidpost means for receiving and retaining said piston rod.

12. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3, which furtherincludes, drive means for selectively extending or retracting saidsecond member from said post means.

13. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3, furthercomprising socket means detachably mountable in fixed rotationalrelation to said chuck means for removing the cylinder piston retainingnut from the

1. A hydraulic cylinder service machine for servicing a hydrauliccylinder wherein the cylinder includes a hollow cylindrical housingclosed at one end and open at the other end, a piston slidably receivedin the housing, a rod connected to said piston at one end by a pistonretaining nut and having an external mounting member on the other endand extending through the open end of the housing, and a cap having acentral aperture therethrough threadedly secured to the open end of thehousing retaining said piston therein and having an aperture throughwhich the rod is guided, said machine comprising, a frame having asubstantially rectangular form and support means, a tubular post meansattached in horizontal position to said frame, first means selectivelyconnected to or slidable relative said post means for receiving andretaining said cylinder housing, second means coacting with said postmeans for receiving and retaining said housing cap, means for preventingrotation of one of the first or second means, and hydraulic means forcausing rotation of the other of said first or second means for removingsaid cap from said housing or replacing the cap on the housing.
 2. Thehydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1, wherein said post meansincludes, a first member mounted on said frame, and a second membertelescopically received in said first member at one end thereof forproviding post means length extensibility.
 3. The hydraulic cylinderservice machine of claim 1, wherein said first means includes, chuckmeans rotatably mounted on said post means.
 4. The hydraulic cylinderservice machine of claim 3, wherein said first means further includes,support means for maintaining said cylinder housing in a spaced relationto at least a portion of said post means.
 5. The hydraulic cylinderservice machine of claim 1, wherein said second means for receiving andretaining said housing cap includes a non-rotatable adjustable spannerWrench-type retainer and means for adjustably mounting same on saidcentral mounting means relative said first means.
 6. The hydrauliccylinder service machine of claim 5, wherein said spanner wrench-typeretainer includes a pair of upstanding arm members, each arm memberhaving a horizontally inwardly facing protrusion for engaging saidhousing cap, means for adjustably retaining said arm members on saidpost means to vary the distance between said protrusions.
 7. Thehydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 1 wherein said second meansincludes a portable adjustable spanner wrench-type retainer, and saidmeans for preventing the rotation thereof includes an elongated memberon said retainer which when said retainer is mounted on said cylindercap is capable of impinging said frame and thereby be restrained fromfurther rotation.
 8. The hydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3,wherein said cylinder further includes at least one ear with an openingtherethrough for pivotal mounting of the housing, and said chuck meanscomprises, a head portion, and members extending from said head portionhaving aligned pin openings, and a pin coacting with the pin openings ofthe chuck members and opening of said cylinder ear to retain saidcylinder for rotation with said chuck means.
 9. The hydraulic cylinderservice machine of claim 8, wherein said hydraulic means includes, aportable hydraulic ram including means for operating said ram, momentarm means mounted in fixed rotational relation to said chuck means forpivotally retaining one end of said portable hydraulic ram, andstationary retaining means on said post means for pivotally retainingthe other end of said portable hydraulic ram whereby extension of saidhydraulic ram forces said chuck to rotate.
 10. The hydraulic cylinderservice machine of claim 8 wherein said hydraulic means includes aportable torquing means capable of providing torque to said chuck meansin fixed rotational connection thereto and also capable of providingtorque elsewhere when disconnected from said chuck means including, aframe, a hydraulic ram insertable in said frame and means for operatingsaid ram, and moment arm means rotatably mounted in said frame forpivotal connection to one end of said hydraulic ram.
 11. The hydrauliccylinder service machine of claim 1, further comprising third meansselectively connected to or slidable along said post means for receivingand retaining said piston rod.
 12. The hydraulic cylinder servicemachine of claim 3, which further includes, drive means for selectivelyextending or retracting said second member from said post means.
 13. Thehydraulic cylinder service machine of claim 3, further comprising socketmeans detachably mountable in fixed rotational relation to said chuckmeans for removing the cylinder piston retaining nut from the rod.